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Pizza Pasta Bake

Ingredients
400 g (14 oz) pasta (rigatoni or penne)
1 tablespoon olive oil
450 g (1 lb) ground beef or Italian sausage
2 cups pizza sauce or marinara sauce
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
Salt and black pepper, to taste
1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup shredded cheddar or provolone cheese
1 cup sliced pepperoni
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or dried herbs (optional)
Instructions
Cook the pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
Prepare the meat sauce
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart. Drain excess fat.
Season and sauce
Stir in pizza sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.
Combine
In a large bowl, mix cooked pasta with the meat sauce until evenly coated.
Assemble the casserole
Transfer the mixture to a greased round glass casserole dish. Sprinkle mozzarella and cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Add pepperoni slices and a light sprinkle of herbs.
Bake
Preheat oven to 190°C (375°F). Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes, until cheese is fully melted and lightly golden.
Rest and serve
Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving for cleaner slices.